Dear Members and Friends:
The Annual FCA Rose Garden Picnic is this Tuesday at 6pm – weather looks great, park is looking fabulous, we can’t wait to see you at the Back Bay Fens, outside the Kelleher Rose Garden. Enjoy the food, music, flowers and friends who’ll be there!
Lots of activity in our parks this week: mid-week, stay fit with exercise classes at Symphony Park. On Friday, join Mayor Wu at the Neighborhood Coffee Hour at the Back Bay Fens Rose Garden (details below). And on Saturday, there’s an afternoon of Porchfest at various locations. Our neighborhood is truly a walkable feast!
There are two important development virtual meetings centering on the West Fens – a new proposal for housing at 112-114 Queensberry (Tues 6/18), and an ongoing discussion on a tower proposal at 2 Charlesgate (Thurs 6/27), abutting the Back Bay Fens. Your input is highly valued, important, and meaningful in shaping our neighborhood. Please see details below in the Development section.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Tuesday, June 11 6-8 p.m., FCA Rose Garden Picnic
Music, food, flowers, friends – spring at the Rose Garden… magical! See flyer.
Wednesday, June 12 at 9:30-10:30 a.m., Tai Chi at Symphony Park (see ONGOING)
Thursday, June 6, 10-11 a.m., Chair Yoga at Symphony Park (see ONGOING)
Friday, June 14, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a..m., Mayor Wu’s Coffee Hour, Back Bay Fens (near Kelleher Rose Garden) across from 73 PARK DRIVE
Mayor Wu’s Neighborhood Coffee Hour is a unique opportunity to speak directly with the Mayor and staff from City departments about open space in our neighborhood. Dunkin’ will be on-site to fuel the local community with freshly brewed Iced Coffee and Donuts. Dunkin’ will brew up even more fun with gift card giveaways. Residents at each event will also be eligible to win a raffle prize from Dunkin’. In addition, each family in attendance will receive a free flowering plant provided by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, while supplies last. Fresh fruit will be provided by Star Market. Additional support by City Express. Full details here: Neighborhood Coffee Hours – Fenway / Kenmore | Boston.gov
Saturday, June 15, noon – 4:30 p.m., Fenway Porchfest
Fenway Porchfest coming your way! For details visit: https://www.fenwayporchfest.org/
ONGOING
June is Pride Month, check out the City’s Pride page with links to celebrations, events, and LGBTQ+ community resources throughout the month!
Wednesdays, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. June and July (no class on July 3rd), Free Tai Chi
Symphony Community Park, 39 Edgerly Road. Free beginning Tai Chi Classes, taught by Sifu Huan Zhang.
Every Other Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.until done, Fenway Cares Food Distribution
Next date: 6/19 – at 2 locations:
West Fenway – Fenway Community Center, 1282 Boylston (enter-Jersey)
East Fenway – Symphony Community Park, 39 Edgerly Road
Volunteers are welcome to sign up for all dates and both locations! Volunteer
MGH/MBG Community Care Health Clinic – 2-5 p.m. on Fenway Cares dates, East Fenway, in Morville House, 100 Norway Street. Offerings may include blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar testing, COVID-19, flu, and pneumonia vaccines.
Thursdays, 10-11 a.m. Chair Yoga at Symphony Park
https://www.boston.gov/calendar/parks-fitness-bcbs-chair-yoga-nicole
Thursdays – Park Fitness: Chair Yoga with Michelle in Symphony Park, 39 Edgerly Road. Repeats each Thursday until August 29. Participate in a free fitness class offered by a certified instructor. Classesare sponsored by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and the Boston Public Health Commission.
RED SOX – 2024 printable baseball schedule / Fenway Park Concert Schedule 11 concert dates are posted, first concert date is June 20th.
UPCOMING
Tuesday, June 18, 6-8 p.m., BDPA virtual meeting on 112-114 Queensberry (details in DEVELOPMENT section). 6-story housing
Sunday, June 23, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Charlesgate Farmer’s Market Opening Day
The market will be held on Sundays, 11a.m.-2 p.m., June 23 – October 13
The Muddy Water Initiative will host a farmers market at Charlesgate Park featuring local farms, bakers, chefs and vendors such as Dick’s Market Garden for fresh produce, Captain Madden’s Seafood and Cape Ann Fresh Catch for fresh fish, Top Shelf Cookies, Azuluna Foods for meat, chicken, and eggs, and prepared and cooked foods from Samosa Man and Dumpling Daughter. About 30 vendors are expected.
Located under the Bowker Overpass at Commonwealth Avenue between Charlesgate East and Charlesgate West with easy access from the Fenway and Kenmore Square.
The Grand Opening will feature performers from Berklee and other festivities!
Tuesday, June 25, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., Fenway Safety Walk follow the link for full details and to RSVP. A great opportunity to join Councilor Durkan, Senator Brownsberger, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation for a safe streets neighborhood walk-around. Stroll the state-owned roadways in the Fenway to identify needed safety improvements and share resident feedback.
Thursday, June 27, Virtual Meeting – Joint IAG and public meeting, 2 Charlesgate West (large residential and commercial project requesting exemptions) (details in DEVELOPMENT section).
An update on the Back Bay Fens pathways project – from the City of Boston | Parks & Recreation Department
The plan is for a Spring 2025 construction start on the pathways project. Rosales + Partners have been hired to work on the new Evans Way Bridge, and will include community engagement. The team is continuing the construction documentation for the larger Back Bay Fens pathways, WWII and O’Reilly work in preparation for permitting with Boston Conservation Commission, Boston Landmarks Commission, Massachusetts Architectural Access Board, DCR and others as needed. Once there is a public meeting date, we’ll share it!
DEVELOPMENTS – BPDA ACTIVE PROJECTS
Tuesday, June 18, 6-8 p.m., BDPA virtual meeting on 112-114 Queensberry
Tuesday, June 18, 6-8 p.m.,BDPA virtual meeting on 112-114 Queensberry.
(former location of single-story Queensberry laundry building)
How to Participate Register in advance for this meeting:
bit.ly/4aFGznH
Meeting ID: 160 494 7637
Toll-free call-in number: (833) 568 – 8864
Fenway CDC proposes to develop the 112-114 Queensberry site into a building six stories above grade and one story partially below grade; with 24 units of housing affordable (in perpetuity) to individuals and households at or below 30% and 60% of area median income. A mix of studios and one-bedrooms for single people, couples, and small families. No parking will be provided onsite. For full details on this project, check out the BDPA site here.
Thursday, June 27, 6-8:00 p.m. Virtual Meeting – Joint IAG and public meeting, 2 Charlesgate West (large residential and commercial project)
The rendering (above) shows the lower level entrance from Ipswich Street.
The project description from the BPDA project page:
2 Charlesgate West | Boston Planning & Development Agency
The Proposed Project consists of approximately 290,000 square feet. Proposal to include 406 residential units, 2,860 SF retail at the Ipswich Street level and indoor bike parking for 408 bikes. The Proponent is proposing the Project to provide 61 units (15%) of on site affordable housing units exceeding the City of Boston’s applicable IDP requirements. There is no onsite parking planned for the Project. A new publicly accessible open stair and enclosed public elevator is proposed, joining Ipswich Street with Boylston Street and providing access to the Back Bay Fens.
MEETING INFORMATION:
This is a virtual joint Impact Advisory Group (IAG) and public meeting for the proposed 2 Charlesgate West project located in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Draft Project Impact Report (DPIR) that was filed and its potential impacts. The meeting will include a presentation followed by questions and comments from the IAG and public.
How to Participate
Please register for the meeting using the following Zoom link:
bit.ly/3KbHilw
Meeting ID: 161 722 2542
Toll-free call-in number: (833) 568 – 8864
Below: a shot from the public presentation shows a rendering from Boylston Street side
COMMENTARY
Below: An unauthorized rendering from a local architect imagines the tower (in white) in a wider context (from height and massing as presented in first meeting):
The documents page has recordings of the meetings which include presentations and public comments: https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/2-charlesgate-west
The April 4th public review meeting was attended by over 50 people, many of whom voiced concerns on the project not being compliant with the established zoning and Parks Ordinances, potential detrimental effects from the height and massing including increased wind at critical pedestrian routes, shadows on parklands, increased stress on existing neighborhood transportation and congestion problems, and deterioration of Parks Ordinance protections established for this very reason. A separate Boston Design Commission meeting had commissioners asking for improvements.
BPDA PROJECTS IN THE FENWAY
“Under Review”: 2 Charlesgate West,112-114 Queensberry St, Fenway Corners (West), Boston University – Warren Towers Renovation, 409 Huntington Avenue, 142-146 St. Mary’s Street
See you around!
Promoting a vital and sustainable neighborhood
Fenway Civic Association 